Silk fabric

Silk knit fabrics could contribute 5-10% to the total export of silk materials, currently worth Rs.1500 crores from the country. Silk knit T-shirts, sweaters and children wears have tremendous scope and huge export demand in Europe, the US, Japan and China is a major contributor. India had the advantage of the availability of moisturous and lustrous looking raw materials. The Bapuji institute of Engineering and Technology had developed silk knitted fabrics after conducting a survey with knitwear exporters and manufacturers across the country, including Tirupur. The institute was able to develop 40 different type structures including blended once, with its new technology, with the assistance of the Swiss Agency for Development and Co-operations. The Indian silk woven materials were sold for $13 per 100g, knit wear could be sold as low as $8. Thus it had value-addition 10 times more than cotton. Bapuji Institute of Engineering and Technology in Karnataka was also exploring the possibility of establishing some depots near Tirupur, which was away from the silk sector, but had other advantages such as facilities for dyeing and processing. Such 12-15 firms established in the area had obtained samples and sent to various countries. It can be seen that in future the demand for Indian wears would also increase. About 15,000 million tonnes raw silks were produced in the country, besides 8,000 million tonnes imports. 75% of Indian production were used domestically and only 25% for export purposes. Silk knit was not necessarily a winter or summer fabric and therefore could be used round the year depending on its weight and knitting construction. The Institutes can definitely beat China, as it believes in bulk supply rather than small orders.


Ag.
Technologies
(Sericulture)